Chapter 34

The Counter Custom Burgers, Santa Monica, California, United States

"Are you ready to continue your culinary education of modern foods?" Liv asked Gen as they stepped into the restaurant. After Gen had safely taken the Ever Grow and Faraday back to FGA, she knew she was overdue to refuel. Thankfully, Liv had offered to take her out for food when she returned to Los Angeles. Portal magic made crossing the country and the world so much easier, but still depleted Gen's magical resources quite a bit.

"Yes, so how are you educating me today?" Gen asked, squeezing into the busy place.

"Today you're venturing into the magnificent world of burgers," Liv explained, looking around the busy place for a table. "They can be done as many ways as nachos and although not as good, they offer a combination of flavors that packs a punch. If you like meat and sauces, then get ready for a taste explosion. This place has the best burgers in Los Angeles."

The Counter Custom Burgers in Santa Monica was apparently a very popular place judging by the number of people filling up the restaurant. Gen's senses were immediately overwhelmed by the strange and wondrous sights, sounds and smells that filled the air. The interior was a mixture of colors and textures, with walls adorned in what appeared to be a bizarre tapestry of images and words, all glowing with an otherworldly light. The floors, a sleek and shiny surface that reflected the overhead lights like a polished mirror, were dotted with tables and chairs of a most peculiar design, their metal frames twisted into shapes that seemed to defy the very laws of nature.

The air was filled with a symphony of sounds, a blend of laughter, chatter and the sizzling of meat on a hot surface. The scent of cooking food wafted through the air, a tantalizing aroma that made Gen's mouth water and her stomach grumble with anticipation.

She watched in awe as patrons lined up before a great wall of glass, behind which a team of cooks worked with a speed and precision that seemed almost magical, crafting burgers of every size and description.

Liv waved to a server, who caught sight of them and nodded in acknowledgement. Liv held up a thumb to the woman as she tugged Gen toward a table in the far corner. "The waitress knows my regular drink order and will bring us a pitcher. I hope you like beer. It's the best pairing for burgers."

"Yes, a beer will be good," Gen replied, sliding into the booth, grateful to have found a seat in the packed restaurant. However, she was learning that Liv was well known around the city and never waited and most knew what she wanted to order without asking.

Still, Liv knew that Gen wasn't familiar with the menu at The Counter and handed her a menu from the side of the table.

As Gen scanned the menu, her eyes fell upon a creation called the Juicy Lucy. The description alone was enough to make her heart race with confusion and also intrigue. It was a burger stuffed with a molten core of cheese. Liv had introduced Gen to nacho cheese, which was exactly what this burger seemed to have inside it.

The juices, according to the menu, were sealed inside by a crisp, seared exterior. The thought of biting into such a creation, of feeling the warm, gooey cheese burst forth and mingle with the savory flavors of the meat, was almost too much to bear. Gen thought that she could muster the courage though to endure such a challenge.

Liv, meanwhile, had opted for a burger called the Counter. According to the description, this towering creation was a true marvel to behold, a stack of flavors and textures that seemed to defy gravity itself. Layers of juicy beef, crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes and spicy pickles, all held together by a soft, toasted bun. The picture of it on the menu alone was enough to fill Gen with trepidation, not understanding how one would go about eating that.

"So you made a million dollars, then?" Liv asked as the server brought over a perspiring pitcher of golden liquid and two ice cold mugs.

Gen was parched and couldn't wait to drink down the cool liquid. She still hadn't gotten used to refrigeration and freezers and having iced things so readily. It was quite the indulgence, but she reminded herself that in the modern world, these were just everyday things.

Aware that she was regarding the pitcher of beer with amazement as the waitress filled their mugs, Gen tried to downplay her excitement, looking away. When the waitress left, Gen grabbed for the handle of her mug, clinking her glass alongside Liv's before taking a much anticipated drink. The smoothness and chill of the hoppy liquid was like heaven and Gen found herself sighing loudly with relief when she pulled her glass away from her mouth.

That gasp had gotten her more than a few looks from patrons standing close by at the bar. Gen ducked her head, covering her embarrassment. "Gosh, I'm so unclassy. Sorry for attracting attention to us."

Liv blinked at her in confusion, then around at the bar. "You think those dweeb hipsters are looking at you because you're enjoying a beer?"

"Well, I look about like an alien having my first drink on Earth," Gen joked, taking another sip, this one a bit more dignified.

Liv laughed at her. "They are staring at you because you've got a unique hotness to you, like a sexy superhero with an old-world elegance. I can't take you anywhere without us getting stares, but that's to be expected."

Gen blushed, covering her face slightly. "They are looking at me because they find me attractive?"

Liv didn't hide her stares around the bar, sizing up all the men glaring in their direction. "Oh, yeah because for as dumb as these hipsters are with their contrarian attitude and their consumerism disguised as counterculture, they still can recognize when the hottest woman in Los Angeles walks into a place."

Gen dared to look around the place, noticing many men leering at her with heated looks in their eyes. She yanked her beer back off the table and guzzled it down. "I get that I'm a bit traditional, but it feels really strange to think that men stare at women so crudely, with their sexual intention so plainly clear…in public."

Liv laughed, refilling their drinks. "You've just been introduced to modern-day technology and what surprises you is that men gawk at you? Just wait until one of these guys gets brave enough to come up and hit on you."

"Here?" Gen asked, pointing at the table. "Don't they need to talk to my father first or my uncle or maybe even Clark?"

Liv shook her head. "No, in the twenty-first century, a woman gets to decide who she goes out with. And often, she goes out with them, enjoying all the perks of a relationship, while staying independent—meaning, she doesn't get married."

"Wait, you mean…" Gen's eyes widened as the true implications set in.

Liv nodded, a playful grin on her face. "But don't worry about dating and all the craziness that goes along with it just yet. You've got a whole city to save and a police force of good officers to recruit now that you've secured the funding."

Gen sighed, grateful that she could distract herself with investigating whatever was going down in Los Angeles, rather than worry about relationship etiquette. That had never been her strong suit, anyway. Elizabeth, her twin sister, was the dainty woman that men fancied. Gen was the one who usually put them in headlocks for looking at her the wrong way.

"And yes, it's amazing how fast Paris made a deal with investors," Gen said, taking another big gulp of her drink, more to distract herself from all the men staring at her rather than out of thirst anymore. "I couldn't believe how quickly that worked out, although I'm not sure exactly how much a million dollars is."

"It's a lot," Liv answered. "But when she could prove that FGA would have an entire mine of flawless diamonds overnight, she had a ton of offers. So now you can pay for a fleet of good cops to do your investigating. I've got a list of the top one hundred in the city and I've lined up a meeting for you tomorrow."

"With all one hundred?" Gen asked, shocked.

Liv nodded. "They were fired without cause and are smart, which is why they were terminated. These officers are hungry to find out what is going on. Oh, and they are probably just hungry in general so it doesn't hurt that I promised them you'd pay them a month's salary in exchange for their work and discretion."

"Wow, so where do I start?" Gen asked, now overwhelmed, thinking of the next phase of this and how many unknowns there were.

"You start by asking questions," Liv answered. "Follow the clues. Have these good police officers use their expertise to follow the clues. Find out why patrols have been moved. Find out what the Commissioner is trying to hide. Look where they obviously don't want you to. The truth will come out. It always does when a Beaufont starts searching for answers."

"Okay, I can do that," Gen said, taking a steadying breath, grateful that Liv had laid it all out so succinctly. It was also incredibly helpful that she'd set up the meeting, recruiting the task force that Gen needed. Now she just needed to step into this vigilante role and take the reins.

"Oh, and right now, you need to eat up," Liv said as the waitress brought over two towering trays of food. "Remember that as magicians our powers are fueled by calories. So don't hold back. You're going to need your strength for whatever comes next. Eat like calories are your best friend, because in our case, they are."

As the burgers arrived at their table, Gen couldn't help but marvel at the artistry and skill that had gone into their creation. The Juicy Lucy was a thing of beauty, its golden-brown exterior glistening with a sheen of grease and its center bulging with the promise of molten cheese. The Counter burger, meanwhile, was a towering edifice of flavor, each layer a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of the cooks who had crafted it.

As Gen took her first bite of the Juicy Lucy, she felt as though she had been transported to a realm of pure, unadulterated bliss. The flavor was unlike anything she had ever experienced—a perfect balance of savory meat, tangy cheese and smoky char. The juices ran down her chin as she savored each and every bite, the warmth and richness of the burger filling her with a sense of contentment and joy.

Liv too, seemed lost in a world of flavor. Her eyes closed in rapture as she bit into the Counter burger. "Oh, wow! That's good," she marveled, shaking her head and wiping her mouth. "The crunch of the lettuce, the sweetness of the tomatoes and the tang of the pickles all combine to create a symphony of taste that dances on my tongue and lingers for so very long."

As they sat there, surrounded by the strange and wondrous sights and sounds of The Counter Custom Burgers, Gen couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for this moment. In a world so different from the one she grew up in, filled with marvels and wonders beyond her wildest imaginings, she had found a small slice of happiness in the form of a simple, perfect burger. It definitely wouldn't be her last. She had a lot of goals in her new life and one of them was to try every last burger on The Counter's menu.